Zhang Jiao

Zhang Jiao (died 184) was a Taoist sorcerer who led the Yellow Turban Rebellion against the Chinese Han dynasty in 184 AD.

Biography
Zhang Jiao was born in Ningjin County, Hebei, China, the brother of Zhang Ba and Zhang Liang. He failed the county-level imperial examination, so he went to the mountains to gather medicinal herbs; there, an old man beckoned Zhang Jiao into a cave and presented him with the book The Essential Art of Great Peace. He learned sorcery from the book, and he learned to summon wind and rain. In 184 AD, giving himself the title of "Great Teacher", he and his brothers founded the Yellow Turbans, a rebel group which fought against the Han dynasty due to burdensome taxes, rampant corruption, famine, and flooding. The rebels had many initial successes, but the imperial army later engaged them in a series of battles. He died in Guangzong County before Huangfu Song's army arrived to attack his forces.